This was my first stay at a Mandarin Oriental, and it was a completely different experience from the Ritz-Carlton, Niccolo, or Waldorf Astoria. The day before check-in, the hotel called to ask about my room preferences, which was a nice touch. As soon as I entered the lobby, I was greeted by MO's iconic fan, a mosaic made of countless individual fans. This fan truly sets the tone for Mandarin Oriental, and fan motifs are subtly integrated throughout the hotel. The overall aesthetic is a perfect blend of 'old money' elegance and New Chinese style. From the decor and design to the overall aesthetic, it hit all the right notes for me, and I give the brand's taste a very high score! 😄
During check-in, the front desk thoughtfully upgraded me to a lake-view room. While waiting for the elevator, they enthusiastically shared the brand's history with me. When asked which hotels I usually stay at, they also highlighted what makes Mandarin Oriental unique compared to others, which made me feel highly valued. 🥰 Unfortunately, the weather in Shanghai that day wasn't great – it was foggy and drizzling, so the daytime view wasn't exactly to my taste. However, the night view was absolutely stunning!
I was particularly pleased that, due to local regulations, smoking is prohibited indoors in Shanghai. When I went downstairs to smoke, a dedicated attendant guided me and even lit my cigarette. This is something I've rarely encountered in most hotels. The brand's training for its concierge staff is definitely something other cities and hotels should aspire to. 👍
Now for a small suggestion after all the praise: the sound quality of the room's speakers wasn't particularly great. Most luxury hotels typically use high-end audio brands like JBL or Sennheiser, and compared to those, the speakers at MO Shanghai weren't quite up to par. However, whatever, this is a minor issue, almost not even a problem at all. Overall, my stay at MO was exceptional. From the hotel service and the concierge's enthusiasm to the brand history and hotel design, it was almost perfect in every aspect. I hope the hotel continues its excellent work and I look forward to staying here again on my next trip to Shanghai. I also hope that my future stays at other Mandarin Oriental properties will live up to the high standards set by MO Shanghai.
Original TextTranslation provided by AI